Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-05-14
Tin.

lne total TN supply or the world, ac-
| cOrding to figures furnished by w.
Russell and Company. was 1857 tons,
March 81 as compared with 1888 the
same date in 1856, and IA, ASS in 1885
The above item is significant, in that
it indicates steady diminution in the
worlds tin supply, while it is we'll
known fact that the demand for tin is
steadily increasing. This is encour-
aging to the prospector in the Black
Hills who has discovered a tin-bearing
location. 1t is encouraging to the Black
Hills country, in which SO many fatter-
ing tin prospects have been discovered.
1t is also encouraging to the men of
means who have invested their money
here in tin property. 1t is a fact be-
yond dispute that the mines which for
generations have furnished the worlds
tin supply are not as prolific as Of yore-
that their ores must now be mined at
great depth, and that the ores scarce
yield profit when the cost of mining
and reduction has been paid. All this
promises the attraction Of capital to the
Black Hills, country which has many
ilattering tin prospects" and in which
in all probability a considerable num-
ber of paying tin mines will shortly be
developed. In the Journal office are
fully 100 tin ore specimens, each repre-
senting a distinct tin location, and
among the number there is not one
specimen which will not yield far
greater percentage Of tin than the ores
Of Cornwall which are now mined at
great depths and consequent great ex-
pense. A majority of these specimens
are taken from the surface, or within
fifty feet from the surface. All belong
to the Black Hills. AS stated hereto
fore, the developments upon Black
Hills tin property have not generally
reached any considerable depth. The
"prospects" are excellent. No better
are found in any country In two or
three locations depth of from 100 to
800 feet has been attained and where
this is the case the developments have
been Of the most satisfactory character.
1t has been shown that the tin. bearing
ledges continue downward toward the
bowels of the earth, and the ore has
lost nothing in the percentage Of tin
carried as depth has been obtained. All
this is highly encouraging. All this
points toward the Black Hills country
rs the future source of Americas tin
supply at least, while it is made morally
certain that if the present source of the
worlds supply falls off during the next
few years as rapidly as it has in few
years Just passed, the Hills country will
he called upon to furnish large guam
tity for export That we have here
paying tin mines is almost beyond ques
tion. There is every encouragement
for the enlistment Of capital in their
development. The supply Of tin must
be kent up. Not only that, but it must
be eventually increased. The world to-
day offers no new field as promising as
the Black Hills. Can it be doubted that
the Hills country is to be vastly bene-
fitted by the speedy inauguration Of the
great industry necessary to make 1t fill
an important place in supplying the
world with this necessary mineral, the
supply Of which has constantly decreas-
ed for number of years, and the de-
mand for which has as constantly in
creased-Rapid Journal.